Ursodiol Prophylaxis in Recipients of Liver Transplant From Donors After Cardiac Death.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of ursodiol in preventing biliary complications after transplant of livers from donors after cardiac death.

Materials And Methods: This was a single-center, nonrandomized, retrospective study that evaluated biliary complication rates in patients who received ursodiol (13-15 mg/kg/day) for 30 days (n = 32; post-ursodiol group) compared with patients who did not receive ursodiol after liver transplant from a cardiac death donor (n = 36; pre-ursodiol group [before introduction of ursodiol in the prophylaxis regimen]). Data were collected from September 2012 to September 2021.

Pharmacist impact on evidence-based prescribing of diabetes medications in patients with clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Background: Including pharmacists on care teams of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been shown to promote guideline-based prescribing and improve glycemic control, lowering risks of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Evidence is lacking regarding whether including pharmacists on the care team is associated with the prescribing of GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) and SGLT-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) recommended for use in patients with T2D and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Objective: To assess the association between having a pharmacist on the primary care team of patients with T2D and ASCVD and being prescribed a guideline-recommended GLP-1 RA or SGLT-2i.

Patient-centered medical home pharmacists' impact on composite quality care measures for patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

Background: Patients with uncontrolled diabetes are at risk for developing complications. Many health care systems have implemented multidisciplinary care models including pharmacists to help achieve quality care measures to reduce complications.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate whether patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) seen at patient-centered medical home (PCMH) clinics affiliated with an academic medical center are more likely to meet a composite of diabetes quality care measures with a pharmacist on their care team than usual care patients without a pharmacist on their care team.

Assessment of medication adherence after enrollment in a health system funded medication assistance program for patients with diabetes.

Background: High costs for patients' medications decrease medication access and adherence which contributes to poor clinical outcomes. Numerous medication assistance programs exist, but many patients needing assistance, particularly insured patients, do not receive assistance due to eligibility criteria.

Objective: To determine if there is an association between medication adherence to antihyperglycemic therapy and patient access to Nebraska Medicine Charity Care (NMCC).

In-Person and Telehealth Provider Access and Glycemic Control for People With Diabetes During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: Ambulatory care underwent rapid changes at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Care for people with diabetes shifted from an almost exclusively in-person model to a hybrid model consisting of in-person visits, telehealth visits, phone calls, and asynchronous messaging.

Methods: We analyzed data for all patients with diabetes and established with a provider at a large academic medical center to identify in-person and telehealth ambulatory provider visits over two periods of time (a "pre-COVID" and "COVID" period).

Telemedicine and health access inequalities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, health systems rapidly introduced in-home telehealth to maintain access to care. Evidence is evolving regarding telehealth's impact on health disparities. Our objective was to evaluate associations between socioeconomic factors and rurality with access to ambulatory care and telehealth use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pharmacist-led drug therapy management for hepatitis C at a federally qualified health care center.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection is challenging to address in patients with barriers to accessing care, including those from underserved populations. Linking at-risk patients through the HCV cascade of care can address such disparities by leveraging existing patient-provider relationships to identify and treat HCV. Pharmacists are ideal clinical team members to provide direct-acting antiviral (DAA) management, given their expertise in pharmacotherapy and medication access.